Scotland's papers: History made as Yousaf takes over 'divided' SNP
The election of Humza Yousaf as Nicola Sturgeon's successor dominates Scotland's front pages.
The election of
Humza Yousaf as SNP leader, and likely first minister, has been hailed
as a "historic day for Scotland" by the Daily Record. The health
secretary is set to become "the first person of colour, first Muslim,
first person in their 30s and first son of immigrants" to lead the
country, the paper notes.
The National also
describes the election of Humza Yousaf as historic. It shows an image
of his emotional parents, Muzaffar Yousaf and Shaaista Bhutta, as their
son was announced as the contest winner at a press conference at
Murrayfield in Edinburgh. Mr Yousaf is expected to be voted in as first
minister at Holyrood on Tuesday.
Mr Yousaf's
victory followed a "bitter battle" among the SNP candidates, The Herald
writes. Political editor Tom Gordon describes the result as a "slow
puncture" for the party, as opposed to a potential "car crash" had
Finance Secretary Kate Forbes won. He says that outcome would have been a
"shock to the party hierarchy". Ms Forbes narrowly lost out by just
over 2,000 of the 50,490 votes.
Mr Yousaf said he
felt like the "luckiest man in the world" following his election, but
The Scotsman warns he faces an "uphill battle to unite a divided party".
The paper says he will be voted in as first minister with the support
of the Scottish Greens, who are in government with the SNP.
The Scottish Sun
focuses on the "knife-edge race" between Mr Yousaf and Ms Forbes. The
health secretary won with 52% of the votes when second preference votes
from former minister Ash Regan - who was eliminated after finishing
third - were redistributed. Ms Forbes received 48%.
Mr Yousaf won out
in a "tense" event at Murrayfield, the Daily Star of Scotland reports.
It also describes the result as a "historic first".
Mr Yousaf, who is
set to become the country's youngest first minister at the age of 37,
has vowed to "dedicate every waking moment" to serving the people of
Scotland, Metro writes.
The new SNP
leader is criticised by the Scottish Daily Mail for telling reporters
that he will immediately push for an independence referendum after being
named first minister. Mr Yousaf has said his government will continue
to call for a Section 30 order from Westminster to gain the necessary
powers to stage a legally binding referendum.
The Scottish
Conservatives claim Mr Yousaf's comments show the SNP is ignoring the
"real priorities" of Scots to "obsess over independence", the Scottish
Daily Express reports.
Mr Yousaf is also
set to clash with Westminster over the Scottish government's reforms to
gender identification laws, the i reports. Mr Yousaf has said he could
challenge the UK government after it blocked the legislation under what
is known as a Section 35 order.
The Telegraph
predicts the Scottish government is on a "collision course" with
Westminster after Mr Yousaf vowed to put the push for independence into
"fifth gear". The paper also says the SNP leadership contest "laid bare
the huge divisions" in the party.
The imminent departure of Nicola Sturgeon will spark a "concerted
campaign" by Labour to win over SNP voters, The Times reports. It says
opponents will aim to capitalise on Mr Yousaf's "unpopularity" after he
was backed as first choice by 34% of SNP members.
The Courier also
leads with Mr Yousaf's feeling that he is the "luckiest man in the
world" following his "narrow win" against Ms Forbes.
Mr Yousaf has promised "no empty soundbites or easy answers" as he aims
to tackle a range of issues facing Scotland, the Edinburgh Evening News
reports.
The Glasgow Times
leads with Mr Yousaf's pledge to be a "first minister for all of
Scotland". The Glasgow Pollok MSP has been told by poverty campaigners
that creating a fairer society must be his top priority, the paper
reports.
As well as the
SNP leadership election, the Press and Journal leads with a report on
concerns over the future of the North Sea energy industry. A combination
of windfall taxes, inflation and political "uncertainty" are
threatening billions of pounds worth of investment, the paper reports.
A teenager is
facing an attempted murder charge after a 30-year-old man was stabbed
multiple times in Aberdeen on Saturday night, the Evening Express
reports.
A pack of wolves
have been put down at a Scottish wildlife park, the Evening Telegraph
says. The animals were euthanised following "complications" during an
operation on the alpha male wolf. His death sparked "anxious and
abnormal" behaviour in four other wolves, Camperdown Wildlife Centre
said, leading to them also being put down.
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